Fire Prevention Week

Home fires today can burn faster than ever. Occupants may have as little as 1 to 2 minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Knowing how to use that time wisely takes planning and practice.

The Whitehorse Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) – the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years – to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign: Look Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere. The campaign works to educate the public about basic but essential ways to quickly and safely escape a home fire. Fire Prevention Week is October 7-13, 2018.

Data from Statistics Canada show that the number of structure fires declined by 26% between 2005 and 2014. However, residential fires consistently accounted for roughly 6 of every 10 structural fires during that period. According to StatsCan, cooking equipment and smokers’ material caused approximately 6 of every 10 residential fires.